Automobile signal device



Nov. .24l 1925- 1,562,803

W. l` STONE AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Dec. 2. 1921 INVENTOR WM.LSTONE BY 5W ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM I. STONE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL DEVICE.

Application filed December 2, 1921. Serial No. 519,376.

To all whom, z'z. :may concern:

. Be it known that I, WILLIAM I. STONE, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, UnitedStates of America, have invented a certain new andnseful AutomobileSignal Device, ot which the following is such a full, clear, and exactdescription as will enable any one skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same. referencebeing had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to a signal device for automobiles and moreparticularly to that form of signal device in which a switch or circuitclosing device is mounted upon one of the control levers of themachineso that the signal may be displayed at the same time that thelever is operated.

The object of my invention is to provide a device in which one of aplurality of signals may be selected when the control lever is operatedby a simple tilting or rocking movement of the foot obviating thenecessity of shifting the foot upon the lever to secure the desiredsignal.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form of device made inaccordance with my invention, Figure 1 is a top plan view the foot platebeing removed, Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1. Figure3 is a section on the line 3*-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a sideelev-ation showing the device in position on one of the control leversof a motor vehicle and Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating thecircuits.

6 indicates the body of the device which consists of a shallow metallicbox preferably rectangular in form. This box 6 is secured to one of thecontrol levers of the machine, preferably the brake lever 7, by anysuitable mcans such as the bolts 8. Situated in the body 6 is aninsulating block 9 carrying a socket 10 which together with a ball 11forms a universal joint. Mounted on the ball 11 is a foot plate 12 inthe form of a cover or lid :for the box 6. This plate l2 is normallyheld parallel with the body 6 by means of four coil springs 13. Carriedby the insulatin block 9 .are contact plates 14, 15, 16 and 17, whichplates are adapted to make contact with pins 18, 19, 20, and 21,respectively, carried on the under face of the foot plate 12. Thecontact plates 14,

15, 16 and 17 are secured to the insulating block 9 by .means of bolts22, the nuts of which also form binding posts for securing to the saidcontacts the wires 23 leading to the signal devices'24. These signaldevices may be of any us'ual` form but will preferably. consist ofincandescent lamps situated behlnd transparent or translucent platesbearing appropriate warning signs. `The current is supplied to thesignal devices 24 by means ot a battery 25 or other source ofelectro-motive force. An insulating plate 26, preferably of mica, issituated between the body 6 and the block 9 to prevent possibility ofcontact of the bolts 22 with the body. The block 9 and plate 26 aresecured 1n position by any suitable means, such for inst-ance, as thescrews 27.

The operation of my device is as follows: When the lever 26 is depressedby means of the foot, if the foot is held in such a position as toretain the plate 12 parallel with the body 6 no Contact will be madewith any of the plates 14, 15, 16 or 17 and consequently no signal willbe displayed. It', however, the foot is rocked so as to cause the upperpart of the plate'to approach more nearly to the body than the lowerpart the pin 19 will be caused `to contact with the plate 15 so as todisplay a suitable signal such for instance as Slow If the lower part ofthe plate is caused to approach more nearly to the body 6 the pin 21will be caused to contact with Y the plate 17 so as to close a differentcircuit and display a dii'erent signal, such for instance, as Stop Bymoving the plate either to the right orl left the pin 18 or the pin 20will be caused -to contact with the plate 14 or the plate 16,respectively, and display other signals to show word Right or Left, orarrows or hands or other suitable iigtnals to indicate the directionsright or It will be evident, therefore, that by the use of my device anyone of four di'erent signals may be displayed merely by a slight rockingof the foot on the foot plate 12 thus obviating the necessity ofshifting the foot as in devices heretofore in use for this purpose. Atthe same time my device is very simple in construction and easy not onlyto manufacture but also to install.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a base, of means securing sald base to a brake lever,an insulating block within said base, contacts carried bysaidinsulatingr block, a f'oot plate supported by a universal joint, saidfoot plate being rovided with a flange overlapping said ase, contactscarried by said foot plate and cooperating with said first namedcontacts, and electric circuits controlled by -said contacts.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a base, ofmeans for securing said base to a brake lever, an insulating blockWithin said base, contacts secured to said block by screws passingtherethrough, an insulating plate situated between said block and baseto separate the screws from the latter, a foot plate supported by auniversal joint, said foot plate being provided with contactscooperating `with said first named contacts, and electriccircuitscontrelled by said contacts.

combination with a base, of means for securing said base to a brakelever, an insulat- 3. In a device of the class described, thc

ing block Within said base, a socket carried by said block, contactsalso carried by said block, a ball in said socket, a foot platesupported from said ball, Acontacts carried by said foot plate andcooperating with said first named contacts, and electric circuitscontrolled bysaid contacts.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and afiixedmy seal.

y WILLIAM I. sToNE., [L a]

